iffiPiementation of sustainable develo~ment. _ _ . ~ .. - -~ "There is a dangerous and ~owing gulf between government officials and industry over th~ formulation of environment policy," he said. . - --"Industry is t>eing b1ank~ted. by a growing range of green strategies, proposed legislation, reviews and national responses to international conventions.

"But we haven't even seen adequate> treatmenr of recommendations flowing from the year loni Ec:ologically Sustainable Development consultative process. - - .

''Despite this, the Federal Government has drawn up endangered species legislation. started to develop a national water strategy and remains under pressure to develop biodiversity laws." -.---- -- ... - Mr Campbell said that government activity on environment issues had overlooked the nature of farming an.d the practical realities facing the industry. - . . _ ''There is clear confu$ion at the policy level which results in further instability in the industry , 1' he said. _ "Without recognition of farm~s' eco,1omlc circumstance$ there is the very real risk: that growers will reject conservation policy and withdraw SllPPort for envtronmental issues. â‘ "Farmers and pastoralists have demonstrated their good will and initiati\'e on realistic environmental issues by forming Landcare groups, supportin~ sensible vegetation clearing controls and ~enerallt adopting better land management strategies ." Mr C~pbell said it would be counter productive for the wider community and government to push the green agenda too hard during these recessionary times. State and Federal governments would be well advised to co-ordinate their efforts with landholders rather than continuously announce vague initiative& that few people understand. 1'-"''F H."\U

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"In Westem Australia fot exll!tlple, the support of rational clearing controls and man~g~rn~nt of rertlllant vegetation has been erode.d by government inaction on the

subject of compensation.'' ho said.

"Landholders are being subjected to arbitrary decisions on percentages of catchments that should r~z.uairt v~getated artd ~irtg expected to fence and manage remaining bush at their own ox~nSt.

"At a wider policy ltvel, growers' problems are being compounded by the existence of thr~ tiel'$ of henta~~ ll&tirta -world, Australia and State. - -- -''These have become both farce and travesty with promises by State and Federal Governments broken and ignored.

'The failure of bureaucrats to grasp the needs of sustaltiable fannii_1a are shown in the growth of spending programs too often divorced from agrlcultwal production.

"Farmers urge governments to assess the value of these activities in the context of the real needs of sustainable agriculture not the political pressures of the day," he said.